Paratus, together with Interactive Audio Visual Solutions, is planning to blaze an e-learning trail through Africa by connecting schools and teachers in rural areas to the learning content they need to be equally equipped to excel in their exams and school rankings. Paratus Zambia, which is participating at the Innovation Africa event this week, is keen to attract joint sponsors to make what the Paratus Group has achieved in Namibia a reality in Zambia. Interactive Audio Visual Solutions, together with Paratus, aims to replicate the work that the Namibian NGO, EduVision, has achieved in Namibia where many thousands of learners have benefited from receiving its online e-learning programme.
The Paratus Group has provided both satellite equipment and infrastructure, technical support, consulting, and capital to help EduVision deliver online e-learning to more rural schools throughout Namibia. EduVision provides remote and underserved schools with access to first-class teaching via digital interactive platforms. “Without a stable and secure internet connection, this type of e-learning is simply not possible”, explains Barney Harmse, Executive Chairman of the Paratus Group. “Providing connectivity to schools in under-served areas is an important part of the Paratus promise to transform Africa through exceptional digital infrastructure and customer service.”
Since 2018, Paratus has been helping the Namibia NGO, EduVision to connect numerous schools and over 10,000 learners directly. Indirectly, thousands of additional learners benefit from the learning materials received online. The Paratus Group in Namibia already pledged and is busy installing a total of 50 satellite connections as EduVision signs up more and more rural schools.
One example of a school that improved greatly because of the EduVision program was Tsumkwe. Since being connected to the programme in 2018, the school:
- boosted its school rankings due to the overall improvement of its students’ results. One student in Tsumkwe received an A+ in Biology,
- jumped a massive 149 places, from number 183 in 2018 to number 34 in 2020 (incl. private schools),
- and increased its public-school ranking from number 59 in 2019 to number 14 in 2020.
A learner from the Waterberg Junior Secondary School said: “Comparing the pace at which we were learning then and now, EduVision has not only accelerated the learning and teaching process but also improved our knowledge and understanding.”
Helping to advance education through connectivity is one of the Paratus Group’s key focus areas under its Paratus Social Investments initiative (PSI). For example, when Paratus has approval from municipalities to install fiber networks in Namibia, the company automatically lays fiber to any schools en route at their own cost, so that these schools and areas may take advantage of the Paratus high-quality connection infrastructure.
Harmse adds: “E-Learning is a beacon of educational light because it is providing online teaching not only to students but also gives the most technologically effective and efficient teaching tools and skills to schools, no matter how remote they are. We hope we can bring this to bear in Zambia.”
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About EduVision
To date, the EduVision programme has grown to directly connect numerous schools and impact over 10,000 learners through VSAT and digitally interactive platforms, the Paratus EduVision programme connects teachers and online learners anywhere in Namibia. Teachers in Otjiwarongo, for example, can teach real-time online classes and direct students to the interactive board on both sides of the connectivity. So, Otjiwarongo and Tsumkwe schools may interact and solve exercises directly on the interactive boards. What is written by the teacher in Otjiwarongo, appears on the board in Tsumkwe and vice versa, and the students may then interact with the teacher in Otjiwarongo.
About Paratus
Paratus is Africa’s quality network. With an eye on the future, the group’s investment underscores its long-term commitment to transform Africa through exceptional digital infrastructure and customer service. Paratus is managed by a passionate and professional operational team in seven African countries – Angola, Botswana, DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia. The business’s extended network provides a satellite connectivity-focused service in more than 35 African countries to a magnitude of customer satellite connections across the continent. This connects African businesses and delivers end-to-end service excellence. The group’s footprint extends beyond Africa to international (points of presence) PoPs in Europe, the UK, and the USA.
Born and bred in Africa, Paratus is thinking big as it grows its footprint to deliver Africa’s quality network and understands the unique opportunities that Africa offers businesses and individuals to break boundaries and to connect without limits.
About Interactive Audio Visual Solutions
Interactive Audio Visual Solutions are our exclusive distributor for Clevertouch Technologies for Africa and together we have implemented educational projects across Africa, inspiring learning and teaching through the Clevertouch products. Support is at the heart of our team, we ensure that our team of experts are ready to answer any question and share their knowledge.
